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Now showing at the Peacock Theatre

Twinkling with festive spirit The Snowman returns for a record-breaking 21st year. Based upon the book by Raymond Briggs and the film directed by Dianne Jackson and produced by John Coates which has transported a generation of children and their families into the wintery world of a boy and his magical snowman.

The phenomenal, award-winning Tango Fire returns for their seventh season due to incredible demand.

Starring Argentinean tango superstars German Cornejo and Gisela Galeassi and a cast of extraordinary tango dancers, this is a fiery and explosive journey through the history of authentic Argentine tango.

English National Ballet present the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, in a colourful and spellbinding show for all the family.

With a narrator to help the young audience follow the classic story of Aurora and her true love’s kiss, and a shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s beautiful melodies, My First Ballet: Sleeping Beauty is an enchanting first encounter with dance for children.

After its thrilling 2018 run, the classical ballet and street dance mash up that is Beats on Pointe is back. As two opposing dance worlds clash, 16 dancers go toe-to-toe in this fun-fuelled fusion of ballet and hip-hop. More than just thrilling dance-offs, this high-energy show is also packed with freestyle acts, singing and beatboxing, a touch of comedy and plenty of feel-good music covering an all-embracing mix of classical, 70’s grooves and current hits.

Fame is a stage musical based on the 1980 musical movie of the same name. It has been staged in two different ways. The first, Fame the Musical, was created by David De Silva, with a book by José Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy. This is it. The show is due in the West End for 2019 and it's set to delight dance-lovers all over again. Don't miss this classic feel good show.

Peacock Theatre history

From the outside

An unassuming modern concrete block from the outside, the Peacock Theatre is used for London School of Economics university lectures during the day. Inside you’ll find a well- equipped space with fan shaped seating and open stage with excellent views wherever you sit, used by the Sadler’s Wells dance company at night.

Peacock Theatre architecture and history

There has been a theatre on the site of the modern concrete Peacock theatre since was back in 1660, when a staging of Shakespeare’s Othello at the Vere Street Theatre, also oddly known as Gibbon’s Tennis Court, saw a female take the stage for the first time.

The site has had a chequered history, clocking up six different names over the years: London Opera House, National Theatre of England, Stoll Theatre, Stoll Picture Theatre, The Royalty Theatre and now, the Peacock.

The original theatre was damaged by fire, re-built and re-opening as the stunning 2,600 seat London Opera House, in competition with the nearby Royal Opera House. Perhaps not surprisingly, it closed in 1912 and stayed resolutely shut until re-opening yet again as the Stoll Picture Theatre, a cinema that screened silent movies accompanied by a full in-house orchestra and showing the occasional variety show. Which was its saving grace at the time, at least until 1957 when it closed again, only to be demolished and replaced by the current modern office block.

In partial compensation, the theatre’s owners built a small theatre in the basement of the new office building, which opened in 1960 and soon became known – mostly tongue in cheek – as the Royalty Theatre. At first it was home to a series of drag shows, then deteriorated again and spent time as a TV studio, hosting the hit TV show This is Your Life.

The prestigious London School of Economics eventually bought the building for use as a university lecture theatre, renaming it The Peacock Theatre, and it remained so until the world famous dance company, Sadler’s Wells, decided it’d make the perfect London home. Today it is still used by students during the day and comes to life as a premier dance venue at night.

One of the Peacock Theatre’s more dubious claims to fame is the fact that it once hosted what is widely thought of as the worst musical ever, called Barnardo.

Ghostly dolphins at the Peacock Theatre!

Sadly, during the 1930s a water tank was kept under the stage to house dolphins. People have reported hearing ghostly dolphin noises in the theatre to this day.

Past shows at the Peacock Theatre

Under the name The Royalty, the building hosted the massive hit Oh Calcutta and Bubbling Brown Sugar in the late 1970s. The Rat Pack played at the theatre in 2002, with Doldrum Bay premiering in 2003. Today’ it’s a dedicated dance venue for the Sadler’s Wells company.

Peacock Theatre access

The Peacock Theatre has an access door on Kingsway, two wheelchair spaces at the back of the Dress Circle with room for companions, and transfer seats in the aisles. There’s also an infra-red system and guide dogs are welcome in the auditorium.

Peacock Theatre tickets

We’re a popular destination for a wide variety of seat types and prices, with excellent availability on the full range of Peacock Theatre tickets.